you are not who you think you are

meeting every moment

Waking up is about meeting every moment, fully and authentically, as it arises – regardless of the content of the moment. It is often totally unnecessary to think about the moment, though thinking may be happening in the moment (and thinking can be met just as readily as anything else that appears to be happening in each moment).

Meet each moment without filters (or only as filtered as necessary to not be put in a nuthouse; you’ll know what this means as you meet each moment).

Meet each moment in the same way a newborn child might meet its first experience of physical pain – with a wince and perhaps a wail.

Meet each moment as that same child might hungrily meet the first taste of its mother’s milk, or responds to her warm embrace.

Meet each moment wide open, as if you invited it to be exactly as it is, because you did.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.